Teacher Training Efforts Of Punjab Get A Pat From Center

Chandigarh/New Delhi, February 8, 2016: The efforts of Punjab Education Department to identify teachers with bad results and train them besides formulating a comprehensive policy for teacher training in order to ensure uplifting of educational standard got a pat from central government.
Union Human Resource Development minister, Smt.Smriti Irani today greatly appreciated efforts made by Punjab Government during a national level conference regarding teacher training at Vigyan Bhawan (New Delhi). Having a word of praise for Punjab, Smt. Irani strongly batted for emulating Punjab’s efforts at national level. Discussing meetings with teachers showing poor results, the Union Minister said that Punjab has set an example for other states to follow in this regard.
During the course of meeting, Education Minister, Punjab, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that it is imperative to have a state level joint entrance exam for admission to teacher centric courses for e.g. E.T.T., B.ED so that qualitative education could be ensured. He also suggested that candidates having a minimum qualification and securing a fixed percentage of marks only should be allowed to take these courses. He said that these steps would lead to increase in efficiency of teachers thereby leading to improvement in results of educational institutions.
Divulging more, Dr. Cheema said that Education Department, Punjab, held regular meetings with teachers with poor results and their Annual Confidential Reports (A.C.R.s) were also placed. He disclosed that it has come to light that teachers showing consistent poor results got top A.C.R.s. He announced that from this session onwards, A.C.R.s of teachers would be written in accordance with the results shown by them. It was while praising this unique initiative of Punjab that Smt. Irani batted for its consideration at national level.
Strongly advocating commencing of integrated courses along with graduation after 10+2, Dr. Cheema stressed practical education along with bookish education. He also batted for having a state of the art training teacher training center in every state to be funded by Union Human Resource Development Ministry.
Outlining comprehensive policy framed by Punjab Government for training of teachers, Dr. Cheema emphasized importance of induction training during recruitment and training at multiple levels (including promotions) till retirement. He also strongly voted for advance training for teachers showing good results and basic training for the ones showing poor results.